I HOPE WE DISH OUT KANE-ING
DAVIE PROVAN reckons cocky Cockney hitman Harry Kane might have done Gordon Strachan a massive favour.
The England star’s casual claim he could stick a hat-trick past Scotland is all the team talk the gaffer needs going into tomorrow’s Auld Enemy showdown at Hampden.
Provan believes it was more of a careless whisper from the striker than a slur on the Scots. But his words will be like poking Strachan’s defenders with a stick and should get them fired up to ram them back down the forward’s throat.
The Sky Sports pundit and former Scotland winger said: “I just hope it gives our centre-backs a little bit more incentive.
“They’ve been criticised in recent years, some of it justified, some of it over the top. But I hope it gives them the incentive to prove people wrong.
“Everyone is talking about England’s front four and how it’s going to be a cakewalk for them. I hope our boys stand up to that.
“It’s uncharacteristic for Kane who comes across as being pretty modest – but it’s a bit careless to make a comment like that.
“It won’t have gone unnoticed by our boys. The centre backs will certainly have taken note.
“England think they are superior. Some people down south have a disparaging view of our game.
“To be honest, our game is not in a great place right now and maybe that’s why they think along those lines.
“But if that helps motivate our boys then Gordon Strachan would be quite happy to hear that kind of comment.”
The Three Lions looking down their noses at their rivals is nothing knew.
Provan has heard it all before – but he knows how it feels to leave England with egg on their faces.
The former Celtic winger was part of the Scotland side that won 1-0 at Wembley in 1981 thanks to a John Robertson spot-kick after being dismissed as no-hopers in the build up.
Provan said: “I remember everyone writing us off.
“That was probably because we were missing our three best players. Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish were all away with Liverpool preparing for the European Cup so to go to Wembley without your top players meant it was tough.
“To win, even with a penalty, was hugely exciting. It was the first time I had seen Wembley. So to go there for the first time and be part of a winning Scotland team was terrific.
“There had been trouble at Wembley in previous Auld Enemy games. They tried to ban Scotland fans.
“There were no tickets sold in Scotland and we were told we’d have no supporters there but when we walked out the tunnel it was just a sea of yellow and red from the Lion Rampants.
“That gave us a great gee up right from the kick-off.
“We had to hang in there and for large parts of it they battered us. But we hung in there and managed to sneak the penalty that Robbo tucked away.”
Scotland need something special this weekend.
Strachan has labelled it a “must-not-lose” but Provan reckons nothing less than a win will do for our World Cup hopes.
He said: “I don’t remember our last big win.
“Maybe the Republic of Ireland. But this would be monumental if we could win it. It would be up there with McFadden in Paris.
“Saturday is a must-win. Taken in isolation, had it have been the first game of the campaign, we would have been happy with a draw against England.
“Given the circumstances, I don’t think that is going to be good enough now. A win would be astonishing given the start we’ve made.
“With five minutes left of the Slovenia game it looked as if it was all over. If Gordon turns it round a lot of us will be eating humble pie.”